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| Buzzard |
Although I was keen to get out birding somewhere on my midweek day off on the 4th of March, I only really had the morning to play with as I had a meeting with someone from the Council about SEPA's plans to reroute the Dighty Burn in places where I do some of my birding these days. That meeting was to take place in Fintry at 1300. Once it was over, I could head elsewhere for some more birding, if the mood took me. However, being a bit limited timewise, I decided to head up the Law as it was relatively close and didn't require too much effort (other than the steps to the top). Although it was still likely a bit too early for migrants passing by, there was a chance of some raptors on the move, or at least, some of the locals displaying.
It was just after 0845 when I headed out. First onto the list, unsurprisingly enough, was Herring Gull. Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Starling, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Magpie, Wren, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon and Robin were all added along the way as I headed for the Law. A Sparrowhawk was seen as I headed up Law Road, a skein of Pink-footed Geese overflew and a Buzzard circled round before I made it to the top of the Hill. My expectations were rather low but a couple of raptors before I'd even made it up the hill felt like a relatively decent omen. More Pink-footed Geese were seen heading north-east, and what may have been the same Buzzard as earlier showed again 10 minutes after I got organised, landing in a tree on the north side, due to the attentions of some of the local corvids.
Long-tailed Tits were heard calling as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A couple of Chaffinches were seen briefly in flight. A pair of Black-headed Gulls flew by at 0950. Another skein of around 30 Pinkfeet headed eastwards just after 1000. I heard a Crossbill just after 1010 but didn't see it. However, a small flock of around 8 were seen in flight at 1018, and I was able to see where they landed - in conifers near the steps on the western side, near the picnic tables. Unfortunately, they didn't stay there long, though I did manage a few photos of 2 males and a female, before they dropped out of sight before flying off again. I heard an unexpected singing Skylark somewhere overhead, moving eastwards. A Song Thrush sang from the trees on the north side. Both Great Tit and Coal Tit were noted around 1040.
More geese and a single Crossbill kept things ticking along just before 1100. A Siskin was heard around 1120. A Sparrowhawk put in an appearance, stooping at something unseen around the same time. A Common Gull then flew past and I was able to pick out a very distant Cormorant heading down the Tay. Another 80 or so Pinkies were noted in 2 skeins (c.30 & c.50) at 1121 and 1126. A pair of Bullfinches were in the trees on the west side at 1132 just before I packed up to head homewards. Lesser Black-backed Gull and Grey Wagtail made it onto the list on the way home. I got organised for my walk to Fintry to meet the guy from the Council for our chat and headed out just before 1225. Grey Squirrel and Oystercatcher were found in Caird Park and a pair of Collared Doves landed in a tree on Findcastle Place.
The meeting lasted a bit longer than expected (2 hours) largely as a result of (mostly me) going off at tangents about wildlife/nature within Dundee. Incredibly, I had a chance encounter with one of my most favourite people, who I initially met through birding (although she's not a birder) and who I haven't seen in far too long a time. (She's still amazing). Easily one of my personal highlights of 2026 so far. The plans for the Dighty work (to take place over 10 years) looked interesting and there will be a website going live soon (with some of my photos featured). As with any change - there may be positives and there may be negatives. Time will ultimately tell which has the greater influence.
I had been planning to head down to the Stannergate after the meeting but as I was a bit overdressed for what had now become a rather warm and pleasant afternoon, I chose to head home instead. Jackdaw and Grey Heron were seen as I headed into Caird Park and a pair of Redwings and another of Mistle Thrush were by the cycle track at the RPC. A Goldcrest was heard from the trees as I headed up towards the Kingsway. I decided I might as well take a look at Swannie Ponds as it was a nice day and not that much of a detour. Greenfinch was added as I wandered along Lammerton Terrace, having failed to find anything at Mains Terrace. At the ponds the usual species were very much in evidence - Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot and Goosander as well as a few gulls of 3 species. These took my total for the day to 44 species of birds and 1 of mammals. An interesting sort of day overall.
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Magpie |
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| Buzzard |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Blackbird |
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| Magpie |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Common Gull |
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| Cormorant |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Redwing |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Goosander |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink-footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
